Press Release from Discovery Channel about the Crocodile Hunter:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

Discovery Communications, Inc. Mourns Tragic Loss of Steve Irwin


Statement from Billy Campbell, President, Discovery Networks, U.S. Discovery Communications, Inc.



Our entire company is deeply saddened by the tragic and sudden loss of Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. Steve was beloved by millions of fans and animal lovers around the world and was one of our planet's most passionate conservationists. He has graced our air since October 1996 and was essential in building Animal Planet into a global brand.

Steve was killed during a filming expedition on the Great Barrier Reef. While we are still collecting specific details, it was a rare accident in which Steve swam over a stingray and was stung by its barb in his chest. A doctor on board Croc One, Steve's research vessel, was unable to resuscitate Steve and by the time he was reached by the rescue helicopter he had passed away.

DCI Founder and Chairman, John Hendricks said, "Steve was a larger than life force. He brought joy and learning about the natural world to millions and millions of people across the globe. He was a true friend to all of us at Discovery Communications. We extend our thoughts and prayers to Terri, Bindi and Bob Irwin as well as to the incredible staff and many friends Steve leaves behind."

DCI CEO and President, Judith McHale said, "I don't think we will ever get over the loss of Steve Irwin, a human being of enormous heart, irrepressible enthusiasm and dedication to everything he touched."

Steve's loss has been felt around the world, evident by the hundreds of heartfelt condolences that have already flooded into Steve's fan site on AnimalPlanet.com.

To honor Steve and the enormous contribution he made to the world and to our company, DCI will rename the garden space in front of Discovery's world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, the "Steve Irwin Memorial Sensory Garden."

DCI is looking at the creation of the Steve Irwin Crocodile Hunter Fund, which we'll affectionately call "The Crikey Fund" to honor Steve's passion and exuberance for conservation and the animal kingdom. This fund will allow people from across the globe to make contributions in Steve's honor to support wildlife protection, education and conservation. The fund in addition to contributions by DCI will also aid Steve's Australia Zoo in Breewah, Australia as well as educational support for Bindi and Bob Irwin.

Right now, our focus is on Terri and the children. We will keep you informed as plans unfold to pay tribute to our beloved Steve Irwin.






To learn more about Steve Irwin's sudden and tragic death, visit Discovery News.

[Darth_Kitten]

1. Flame me if you wish.....

but you shouldn't mess with Sting Rays.......

RIP Steve....how terrible.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

2. Not going to flame you...

But I don't think he messed with him...I believe Steve was swimming above him, and the sting ray sort of...attacked.
Duckie

[Placebo]

12. Stingrays only attack if they feel theatened.

Obviously the Croc Hunter was no stingray specialist. I read an article speaking with someone who was and they said an experienced stingray expert can visually detect when a ray is in a defensive/threatened mode and get out of the way.

[elperromagico]

13. Hey Duckie.

How've you been?

[YellowRubberDuckie]

30. Holy Shit...

Where have YOU been? How are you? I'm good.
Duckie

[LostinVA]

33. He didn't mess with one n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

37. OK.

That's a fucked up thing to say and underlines a very serious misunderstanding of sting rays.

[lost-in-nj]

3. He loved and was loved

that in itself should make people pause and reflect.
Yes people die everyday believe me I know this all to well
But everyone knew him or at least about him.
It brings death to the forefront so we reflect and it hurts.......

Some of us think "there but for the grace of God go I"
at least I do, remember it can happen in an instant
to anyone, anywhere.
Let the people in your life know you love them........
always

lost

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. "Right now, our focus is on Terri and the children." -

meaning, "Our focus, or at least our lawyer's focus, is going to be spent a lot in the next coming weeks trying to avoid the hammer of the lawsuit from Terri and the children, the insurance companies, the Australian government, the US government, the producers of the movie he was working on, the ship owners, the doctor, Dicovery Inc., me and the rest of the executives, and God only knows who else as lots of people and groups begin to try to divvy up the insurance prize and see how they can milk this company and the insurance companies and every other company involved for as much as possible and place blame and sue for negligence and who knows what other invented 'problems'".

Sad, but true.

I really liked Steve - wonderful stuff he did, his wife is great, and his children are cute.

[lost-in-nj]

5. Do you think

personally that Terri didn't know the risks??
I think she is a smart lady and knew just like a cop or fireman's wife that one day he
might not come home....

:shrug:

lost

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. Oh, I'm sure that she knew - but I'm also sure that the insurance

companies and everyone else involved is gonna be working mucho overtime trying to find out who's to blame, how much money everyone should get, etc., and, I wouldn't be surprised - even if she were the nicest person in the world - that her lawyers won't be recommending that she try to get more out of the company in compensation, lost income, and all that other blather.

I don't think she'd do it maliciously, and probably nothing will go to court, but I bet some behind-the-door settlements are getting ready to be made.

[lost-in-nj]

9. Yeah I know what you mean

I had to deal with my insurance company for minor damage to the house when a tree fell on it.
The adjuster added so much to my check that I would not have thought of, that at that point in time I knew why my
premiums are so high.

lost

[LostinVA]

34. Know the risks? She did the risks

Before she met Steve, she did Cougar rescue/rehab in the Pacific NW... and she's been a huge part of the Zoo's work.

[hickman]

8. Sad but true.

The lawyers will be up all night for the next two weeks. My Dad was a workmans comp lawyer for a major corporation, with 11 lawyers who answered to him, till he retired early in 1987. I asked him once why he left early (he still had 3 years till he hit 65yrs old). He said that with what he was required to do for the job now, he could no longer look himself in the face in his shaving mirror every morning.

[Floogeldy]

16. What was your former username, hickman?

[alittlelark]

31. uh.... Okay....

hmmmm.

[Scout1071]

32. Sometimes,

people really act with compassion and nothing more.....even TV execs.

[banana republican]

6. Frankly I liked him

[XemaSab]

10. As a biologist I felt two ways about him...

I think sometimes he did stupid things that people should not be encouraged to do, but also he was SO enthusiastic and did so much for teaching people about the natural world and all that is out there....

:cry:

[TimeChaser]

11. XemaSab!

:cry: :hug: It's been a sad day for me

[XemaSab]

14. I know

I spend a lot of the day birding and in traffic, so I had a lot of time to sit and feel bummed.

I saw a blue footed booby (588!) and got 100 for both San Bernardino and Riverside Counties this weekend, so I never have to go to either county again. 100 for San Bernardino was Brown Headed Cowbird, which sums up my whole feeling about the second-worst county in California (after Riverside, natch.)

I started a thread in GD. :D

What have you been up to?

[TimeChaser]

15. OMG I just read your thread

:rofl:

I'm back in school again. Taking Japanese, Chemistry, Genetics, and Cultural Anthropology this semester. I'm treasurer of the campus anime club, and we had our first public meeting tonight.

Oh, and I have better roommates now :D

[XemaSab]

22. You'll have to tell me how genetics goes

I have heard nothing but rough things about the class.

Chemistry was okay; cultural anthropology was cool. Ask your teacher about the kaluli (sp?).

Updated to reflect proper spelling of tribal name. I did a project on the Nuer, who are pretty cool too. :D

[TimeChaser]

24. Genetics was always one of my strong points in general biology classes

So I'm not really that worried. Plus I'm not a genetics major, so I don't have to take a genetics lab. Anthropology seems like it's going to be interesting. My professor seems to have done a good of field work, including living among the people of Mt Kilimanjaro for years. I'm sure there will be plenty of fascinating stories and anecdotes.

[Broken_Hero]

17. Its saddening

Its a loss, and I did enjoy his shows. He was doing things you would never catch me doing in 100 lifetimes. Vess, a friend's kid, is devastated, Steve was his hero, and has dressed as Irwin for Halloween the past two years...its rough, but I guess its just the progression of life, things happen, deal with said issues, and life moves on...

[Floogeldy]

18. Is it possible that there is a force known as "animal Karma?"

Could it be that the Stingray, in a split second, with a cold swipe, pierced the heart of the guy that had tugged on, fucked with and teased creatures everywhere, relentlessly, in a Stingray's arrogant display of vengeance, immediately ending the career of the intrusive human known as the crocodile hunter?

Personally, I have no idea.

[Superman Returns]

19. wow

your mean. he helped animals and educated people about them. I thought the numerous threads that dealt with the cold-hearted reaction to his death by some DU'ers were overblown. Guess I was wrong.

[Floogeldy]

20. My what?

Yea, I think you should get used to typing "Guess I was wrong."

[TimeChaser]

21. Yeah, I'm sure those crocs would be better off dead.

You know, the ones who happen to be a little too close to human territory for comfort. I guess educating people and teaching them that relocation is an alternative to just killing a unwelcome animal.

[Floogeldy]

23. I don't know where you got that.

I do not advocate the killing of any animals.

[TimeChaser]

25. But you seem to think that Steve Irwin was no friend to animals.

While thanks to him, "problems crocs" that would once have simply been killed are now more commonly relocated away from humans.

[Floogeldy]

28. I didn't mean that.

I love all creatures and do not want them to be hurt. Each has its place in the ecosystem of the planet. I wish we still had Do Do Birds, Tasmanian Tigers, among others.

[ForrestGump]

26. "Personally, I have no idea" is the only part of your post that's correct

[XemaSab]

27. Why are you personally so pissed about this?

Biologists everywhere harass animals.

I have had birds die in my hands being banded, and that's considered a pretty tame activity as far as mortality goes.

Last week we had to voucher 50 fish for science.

I know of people who have had to draw blood from eyeballs, clip toes for identification, and surgically implant tracking devices under general anesthesia. And then there are the people I know who are in charge of "collections."

Irwin definitely messed with the critters, but so does EVERY biologist. It's the nature of the game.

We as humans have the power of life or death over these creatures. Should we? No. Do we? Yes.

My friend Debi this weekend rescued a whale that was caught in a fishing net. Humans are the reason the whale was caught, but humans let it go too.

I think Irwin did a huge amount towards educating people about all the critters that are out there, and that overall, his contribution to the world was overwhelmingly positive.

[Floogeldy]

29. `

:loveya:

[LostinVA]

36. Now I know why you get bad chiggers!

Great post!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

35. You know...

It's that kind of thinking that leads to the conclusion that AIDS is God's cure for gays.